Director, Project Development

About the role

Join the power movement as Director, Project Development at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS). CFS is on the cusp of proving the commercial viability of fusion power via our SPARC demonstration plant in Devens, MA. This role will play an instrumental part in developing and delivering the first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant.

Responsibilities

• Deliver: Oversee a team to obtain all permits, contracts, and entitlements necessary for site preparation and construction activities.
  • Activities include lease and site control, electrical interconnection, securing local approvals, technical diligence, utility connections, CPCN/Siting boards, permitting, licensing, and transportation/logistical planning.
  • Manage project schedule and budget information using industry-standard project management techniques and strategies.
  • Develop recovery plans in case of potential shortfalls.
  • Establish a center of excellence for project development, including objectives, key results, performance metrics, and documented best practices.
  • Create a diligence log to keep accurate information on all aspects of the project.
  • Maintain an inventory of commitments and obligations during the development phase and confirm positive receipt by EHSS and Construction teams.
  • Support technical due diligence on potential and selected sites, ensuring rigorous analysis and documentation of key risks and decisions.
  • Create long-term projections of revenues and expenses with a proforma for financing and investment decisions.
• Maintain project schedule and budget information utilizing industry standard project management techniques and strategies to plan and monitor work.
  • Develop appropriate recovery plans in the event of potential shortfalls.
• Drive process improvements and, where applicable, drive the development of tools and/or department or division policies.
  • Develop a diligence log to keep accurate information on all aspects of the project.
  • Maintain an inventory of commitments and obligations during the development phase and confirm positive receipt by appropriate persons in EHSS and Construction teams.
• Develop a repository of potential sites and partners for future ARC development.
  • Work with legal and compliance teams to ensure compliance with all relevant and applicable requirements, standards, and laws.
• Work with ARC design team to support site-specific design changes to the standard ARC power plant design.
  • Lead the development of creative solutions to potentially blocking issues.
  • Manage and defer potentially constraining design decisions.
  • Lead the cross-functional group of internal stakeholders, consultants, and contractors.
  • Coordinate due diligence activities with other internal groups to ensure proper analysis and structuring of assigned projects.
  • Support other teams, including Government Affairs and other Commercial Teams, as required to support the needs of the business.
  • Advocate for policies supportive of fusion technology at industry conferences and forums.
  • Represent the company professionally with integrity to stakeholders and approval authorities.
  • Provide periodic updates on progress to a varied set of internal stakeholders.
  • Act as liaison between internal and external specialists regarding procurement, contracting, permitting, and interconnection.
  • Serve as CFS' subject matter expert on project development and represent the company professionally with integrity to stakeholders and approval authorities.
  • Act as contract manager/owner for all consultants supporting project development.
  • Support the ARC design team to identify opportunities to improve the design, development, and construction processes.
• Model and promote CFS Core values of Execution, Self-Critique, Impact, and Integrity.
  • Organize, recruit, and lead an effective project development team.
  • Assist in the development of engagement strategies for key stakeholders to produce positive outcomes for CFS.
  • Participate in future ARC siting activities addressing technical feasibility, planning, and permitting risks.
  • Establish relationships with potential third-party developers and key policy makers to promote a strategy for future incorporation of fusion technology.
  • Support other teams, including Government Affairs and other Commercial Teams, as required to support the needs of the business.
  • Advocate for policies supportive of fusion technology at industry conferences and forums.
  • Represent the company professionally with integrity to stakeholders and approval authorities.
  • Provide periodic updates on progress to a varied set of internal stakeholders.
  • Act as liaison between internal and external specialists regarding procurement, contracting, permitting, and interconnection.
  • Serve as CFS' subject matter expert on project development and represent the company professionally with integrity to stakeholders and approval authorities.
  • Act as contract manager/owner for all consultants supporting project development.
  • Support the ARC design team to identify opportunities to improve the design, development, and construction processes.
• Strategize: Work closely with Government Affairs to develop engagement strategies for key stakeholders to produce positive outcomes for CFS.
  • Participate in future ARC siting activities addressing technical feasibility, planning, and permitting risks.
  • Establish relationships with potential third-party developers and key policy makers to promote a strategy for future incorporation of fusion technology.
  • Support other teams, including Government Affairs and other Commercial Teams, as required to support the needs of the business.
  • Advocate for policies supportive of fusion technology at industry conferences and forums.
  • Represent the company professionally with integrity to stakeholders and approval authorities.
  • Provide periodic updates on progress to a varied set of internal stakeholders.
  • Act as liaison between internal and external specialists regarding procurement, contracting, permitting, and interconnection.
  • Serve as CFS' subject matter expert on project development and represent the company professionally with integrity to stakeholders and approval authorities.
  • Act as contract manager/owner for all consultants supporting project development.
  • Support the ARC design team to identify opportunities to improve the design, development, and construction processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Engineering, Engineering Technologies, Business, Finance, Economics, Math, Physics or a related field OR >10 years of progressive experience developing large scale energy projects.
• 5+ years of large capital project development and investment.
• Minimum 5 years project management experience.
• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership experience, team performance skills, service mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor.
• MS Excel - Proficiency, MS Power Point - Proficiency, MS Project or P-6 Primavera - Proficiency.
• Deep knowledge of project development and project management practices across a wide range of domains including project finance, permitting, electrical interconnection.
• Experience in successfully achieving FID or financing of a major project (greater than $50 mm financing).
• Proven and demonstrated success leading a cross-company, multi-function enterprise team through a large, complex project.
• Sufficient technical aptitude to rapidly learn fundamental concepts of fusion power plants.
• Proven writing and communication ability, and consistent quality of work appropriate for preparing material for a broad external audience.
• Demonstrated ability to consensus build, appropriately balance competing functional drivers and effectively communicate complex topics.
• Proven project management capabilities with proven ability to prioritize multiple projects and/or issues with conflicting deadlines and/or business unit drivers.
• Reliable and persistent work ethic, seeing tasks through to completion. Stays determined in the face of uncertainty and failure.
• Adaptability to a start-up environment, capability to take initiative, develop own tasks and timelines, and solve broad, ambiguous problems.
• Comfort and capability making judgment calls that are fundamental to the success of entire projects or major initiatives.
• Respectfully challenge senior leadership with a well-reasoned and data-supported argument.

Qualifications

• Must-have Requirements:
• Perform activities such as typing, standing, and sitting, for extended periods of time.
• Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call - this position will require up to 25% travel (day-trip & overnight).
• Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.
• $170,000 - $250,000 a year salary range for this full-time position + equity + benefits.
• Competitive compensation with equity, 13 Company-wide Holidays, Flexible vacation days, 10 sick days, Generous parental leave policy, Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with employer matching, Professional growth opportunities, Team-building activities.
• CFS is an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law.
• This role requires compliance with U.S. law.